It is no secret that there is a problem with the amount of movement we collectively do as a nation – we don’t do enough! It can be tricky trying to coax stubborn teenagers off their games consoles or to find time to get moving between all the household chores, but it’s important that we increase our activity levels to help protect our families from all sorts of health problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. So, what can we do to get up and about?
Firstly, don’t turn exercise into a chore. It shouldn’t instil dread or fear into your family, but it should be something for everyone to look forward to. There is no point in forcing your six-year old son to play football if he doesn’t enjoy it, or making your daughter carry on with her gymnastics classes if she’d rather be on the hockey pitch. Listen to what everyone enjoys and come up with a compromise so that everyone is happy.
Buying some specialist sporting equipment can be a great way to increase enthusiasm for sport and exercise. For example, getting each member of the family kitted out in their own unique cycle jersey can be a good way to get everyone looking forward to their family bike ride, and you could even agree you’ll stop off halfway through for a drink or a snack in a particularly beautiful part of the journey.
Swimming is another fun family activity, as you can incorporate games into your swim. For example, taking a ball along means you can play catch, or you can invent your own games by transforming normal land sports into something a little bit wetter. Moving in water burns more calories than in air because of the resistance, so you will all feel that you’ve had a proper full-body workout.
If there is a big sporting event coming up, you could replicate this in your own family version in the back garden. This works well when coupled with a BBQ or a garden party, and you can get everyone involved. You can take inspiration from watching the televised game, which is a good way to help everyone understand the rules, and then play your very own fun version which may even spark an interest in the sport as a whole.
Make sure you don’t pressurise anyone when you’re trying to increase the level of sport you all do. It shouldn’t always be a competition as some people are naturally more talented sportspeople than others, so come up with fun group activities you can do without making anyone feel like they’re lagging behind.
Chrissie Hinton loves spending time getting fit with her young family
